It was a quiet day on the tour bus.  The Backstreet Boys were traveling to a new city and state to perform a concert.  They had just started the new tour but had to leave one behind.  Nick's little sister who had been traveling with them for so long had to stay home for school.  Oh well.  This isn't a story about her.  This is a story about the one they call A.j. and the mess he got himself into one fateful day.

"Dude!  This place is so boring i'm about to drop dead!"  said A.j..  They had been cooped up in the bus for several hours.  The bus was stopped right now so the driver could have about a two hour nap so the guys could do as they please.

"If you want to get out so bad, why don't you go?"  asked Nick.

"I don't know Nickey.  Why do you get on my case?"  said A.j. sarcastically.

"Don't call me that!"  yelled Nick.  He hated when A.j. called him Nickey.  The only people allowed to was his sisters and brother.

"Alright, that is enough!"  yelled Kevin.  "A.j., go take a walk and cool off.  Nick, go play video games."

"But Kevin..."  Nick started but Kev gave him the evil eye and he did what he was told.  Kevin looked over at A.j..

"*sigh* Fine, i'm going."  He said in defeat.  He opened the front doors and stepped out.  It was kind of hot but not as bad as they thought it was.  He started down a sidewalk by a few old stores.  I mean they were almost ancient.  He kept on going until one little shop caught his eye.

"The Blue Tiger?"  he said to himself.  It was odd because it was the only shop with an oddball name on the whole block.  He shrugged if off and approached the store.  The sign said open.

"Oh what the hay."  he said to himself again.  He opened the door and walked in.  It looked more like a fortune telling place than a shop.  The door slammed behind him.  There were several objects lining the wall and several more along the tables.

"May I help you sir?"  A.j. jumped and turned around.  There stood a little old lady he guessed to be the owner.

"Um.. no.  Just looking."  he said and pretended to be interested in something he had no idea what it was.

"You are not from here am I wrong?'  the lady spoke up.

"No.  Florida."  answered A.j..

"Ah, the land of many omens."  she said almost giddy.

"Um.. yeah sure, what ever you say."  he said, kind of getting annoyed by her.

"I sense hostility in your voice.  Is there something wrong young man?"  she asked.  A.j. was very annoyed.

"No and I don't think that is any of your business."  he snapped.  The old woman took a step back.

"Now see here young man.  I do not like being talked to that way."  she frowned.

"Well than leave me alone."  he said.  He started for the door when she blocked his way.  "Let me through."  he said through his teeth.

"I would like an apology for the way you just talked to me sir."  she said calmly.

"No, this is not happening.  Tell me i'm not being ordered by a little old hag."  he said out loud.  This infuriated the old woman.

"You don't know who you are talking to!"  she yelled.

"Neither do you."  he whispered.  He pushed her aside and began to open the door when she grabbed his arm.

"You.  I curse you with the creature you are inside.  It will come out and you will wish you never said those words."  she hissed.  She then pushed him out and slammed the door, leaving A.j. amazed.

"Isn't she a little overdue to have her bolts tightened?"  he whispered.  He then turned around and left the store behind him.  What did that lady know anyway?  A curse?  That lady's been watching to much t.v..  Yet A.j couldn't help feeling uneasy.

"A.j.!  Where have you been?  Charlie wants to get going now."  yelled Brian as A.j. reached the bus.

"O.k.."  A.j. said back as he climbed onto the bus.

"Hey, where did you go?"  asked Howie.

"Oh, just to some of the shops around town.  No big deal."  he answered.

"Hey, why didn't you bring me?"  laughed Howie.

"There was nothing anyway.  Just a bunch of junk and little old lady stuff.  Your mom might have liked it."  he sneered.  Howie gave a fake laugh.  The bus started with a jolt and began to move.

"I don't know about you guys but i'm going to take a nap."  said A.j..  Nick and Brian watched him climb into his bunk and shut the curtains.  They walked to the back to make sure he couldn't hear them.

"B-Rok, did you notice something strange about A.j.?" Nick asked.

"It's not just me?  Oh good.  What did you notice?"  asked Brian.

"I'm not to sure.  But there was something different about his looks.  Something that doesn't fit."  he said pointing to the bunks.

"So i'm not crazy.  Maybe it's just stress." Brian answered.

"Yeah maybe your right.  Challenge you to a game of Mario Kart."  Nick smiled.

"Your on."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A.j. woke up a short time later to still hear the bus moving.  He looked at his clock.  He had fallen asleep for about and hour.

"A.j., you up?"  yelled Howie.

"Yeah, i'm up."  A.j. answered.  He sat up in bed and just stayed there.  He felt very weird right now.  Like something wasn't right about himself.  He rubbed his eyes and pulled open the curtains only to see Kevin standing there.

"Oh, hey.  What's up?"  he asked.

"Your girlfriend called."  answered Kevin.  A.j.'s head perked up.

"She did?  What for?"  he asked again.

"She said that she is going to be meeting us at our hotel.  Surprise."  smiled Kevin.

"Oh my god, really!?  That's great!  How far are we?"  A.j. said in a flash.

"We just entered town.  We'll be there in about 15 minutes"  he answered.

"I gotta go get ready!  Oh thank god we don't have a concert tonight!"  A.j. said happily.  He jumped off of the bunk and ran into the bus bathroom.  There was a bunch of thinks laying around.  A.j. shut the door and grabbed a comb.  As he was fixing his hair he did notice something wrong with his teeth.

"What the?"  he said to himself.  He opened his mouth and sure enough something was wrong.  His upper and lower canines had lengthened.  They looked more like fangs.  A.j. couldn't help wondering if this was part of the old woman's curse.  He touched his finger to the end of one of them.  They were very sharp

"A.j.!  Get your butt out of the bathroom.  We're here."  yelled Brian.  A.j. cringed.  No one was to know about the old woman or his teeth.

"Alright, i'm coming!" he yelled.  He clicked the lock and opened the door.  The rest of the guys were gone already.  He grabbed some of his bag and rushed off of the bus.  He could see the guys walking in so he ran to catch up.

"Guys!  Hold up!"  he yelled to them.  He almost made it when someone grabbed him from behind.  He dropped his things in surprise.

"Guess who."  a female voice said.  A.j. knew that it could only be one person.

"Amanda!"  he laughed as he pulled her hands off.   He turned around and faced his girlfriend.  She gave him a kiss.

"Did you miss me?"  she asked.

"You never even left my mind."  he said sweetly.  Nick and Brian began to make gagging noises behind him.

"Ewww!  I think they're going to kiss!"  laughed Nick.  He always acted like a little kid in front of girlfriends.

"What are you laughing at Littrell and Carter?  You don't even have girlfriends!"  yelled A.j.  That shut them up pretty fast.  A.j. sneered at them.

"How about we go get check in?"  said Amanda.  A.j. couldn't agree more.  They walked inside and Kevin went to the front desk.  He got the keys and got them all to the elevator.

"Don't let Amanda and A.j. be next to each other.  They might start making out in here."  giggled Nick.

"Watch it Nick.  One more word and i'm going to break that little thing you call a nintendo."  said A.j..  Once again it shut him up very fast.  The elevator binged and they all got off.  Kevin gave them each a key and the retreated to their rooms.

"It's so great that you came here Mandy."  A.j. said once they got inside

"Hey what's a relationship for when you can't surprise the one you love."  she smiled.  He gave he a big hug and they kissed.  And kissed, and kissed.  Finally they let up a little.

"Wow."  she said.  She backed up and almost tripped over his bags.  He caught her and picked up his things.  He threw them down onto the bed and sat down.

"So how long are you going to be here?"  he asked her.

"Just until after the concert tomorrow.  Then I have a flight back home."  she explained.

"Then I will cherish every moment we have together."  he smiled.  She began to say something but stopped.

"A.j., did you put caps over your teeth?"  she asked.

"What?"  he said, he was very confused.

"Your teeth.  Did you put those dang fang caps in again?"  she asked again.  His mind was racing.  He hoped she wouldn't notice but it didn't work.

"Ah, no.  It must just be the lighting in here or your eyes playing tricks with you."  he said quickly.  She gave him a funny look but then settled into the chair.

"Must be a bit of jet lag."  she sighed.  A.j. got up and walked behind her.  He started to give her a massage that made her feel a bit better.

"See?  A.j. can make anything all better."  he snickered.  She gave him a kiss when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in!"  yelled Amanda.  A moment later Brian's head poked in the door.

"Oh hey, we're going out to explore the town clubs.  Nick has to stay behind but do you guys want to go?"  he asked.

"Nah, not tonight.  We have a little catching up to do."  smiled A.j.

"Oh, alright.  We'll see you two lovebirds later o.k.?"  he said.

"O.k., see you."  Amanda answered.  Brian left and the door shut with a click.  Amanda got up from her chair.

"And where do you think your going?"  teased A.j..

"To get in something more comfeterable.  Be right back."  she answered.  She picked up something from one of her bags and went into the bathroom.  If only they both knew what was happening at that same time at the old woman's shop.  What a pity that it had to happen.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The old woman, who's name was Agatha, was busy with one of her spells.  She had not forgotten the young man in the store that day and the attitude he had.  She was living up to that curse.

"When i'm through with him, he'll wish he never walked in here."  she snarled.  She hated him to the core.  Old hag indeed.  Lets just show him what this old hag is made of.

"Now where did I put formula X?"  she asked herself.  She went looking around her shelves of weird things until she came upon a bottle filled with a red liquid.

"Ah, the perfect ingredient for a human with an evil creature within.  This boys with be the most evil of them all."  she cackled.  She poured it into a large cauldron like a witch has.  It began to bubble and sizzle.  Then it began to whirl around the the cauldron.  The middle turned to black and an image came to it.  The image of A.j..

"Now let's watch the fun."  she laughed.  She watched as the young man doubled over in pain.  His eyes glowed a deep red (Think of the color of this page).  His body began to change.  His hands turned to claws and his feet split his shoes.  His ankles broadened and lifted to form like a backwards knee.  His shirt tore as two wings grew on his back.  He grew taller and stronger.  His face had changed into that of a demon.  It was no longer A.j., but the beast within him.  And the old woman just sat laughing the whole time.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"A.j.?  Is everything alright out there?"  Amanda yelled from inside the bathroom.  There was no answer.  This wasn't like A.j..

"Alexander James you answer me!"  she laughed.  Still no answer.  She sighed of frustration and unlocked the door.

"This isn't funny Alexander James."  she yelled at him.  she walked out to find nobody there.

"A.j.?  Are you hiding?"  she teased.

"Alexander isn't here anymore tootsie.  You've got me now."  Said a very raspy voice.  Amanda turned around.  That was not A.j..

"Who are you?  Where's my boyfriend?"  she asked the voice now very scared.

"Why, he's fighting me right now.  But I have taken over!"  It screeched.  Amanda looked up to see the evil being hang off the ceiling.  She let out a scream and it jumped down in front of her.  She was to scared to move.  The thing was wearing A.j.'s thing that were now ripped up but it wasn't him.

"How do you like the new me baby?"  It hissed.  She finally found her strength and punched it in the face.  She ran for the door but it was to quick.  It grabbed her arm and threw her backwards.  It's claws left four gashes in her arms.  She landed of one of the beds and it tried to attack her again.  She kicked for the face but it grabbed her leg.

"I wouldn't do that.  Your little boyfriend is still here.  This is his body.  But I have made a few adjustments."  It sneered as it stretched it's wings.

"I don't know what you are but you let him go now!"  she screamed.  She kicked loose and ran to the window and tried to open it.  Anything to get away.  The thing ran at her and right when it was going to hit her, she ducked.  The thing went out the window and she slammed it shut.  She fell over with fear and cried for the one she loved.  From what that thing said, it was really A.j..

"Oh A.j., what happened to you?"  she sobbed.  All of the sudden there was a smashing sound.  She looked up to see the windows open and the thing flew in.  Amanda let out s loud scream.  Nick had to have heard it now.

"Awe, did I scare you?"  It taunted as it landed.  Once again she was overcome with fear and was frozen.

"Ni...."  Is all she could get out.

"No one came help you now.  I am quiet hungry from the fight.  I guess you'll have to do."  it snarled.  Her eyes widened as it came closer and closer.  She could move a muscle.  All of the sudden she heard a familiar voice.

"NO!  DON'T HURT HER!"  the thing yelled.  It grabbed it's head and looked like it was fighting itself.  It's face and body began to change and it fell to the floor and stayed there.

"Oh my god, oh my god."  Manda said over and over.  She stood up and walked towards it.  It remained still.  She grabbed a nearby lamp and was ready to use it as a weapon.  It was laying face down so she couldn't she it's face.  She touched it on it's back.  It still didn't move.  Yet something was familiar body how the body looked.  It was no longer the creatures.  With the lamp in hand she proceed to turn it over.  She gasped at what she saw.

"Oh my god, A.j.!"  she yelled.  Yet he still had some features of the creature, like wings and claws, it was the face of A.j..  His eyelids flickered and Amanda stood up.  His eyes opened and he seemed confused of his surroundings.

"A.j.?"  she asked.  He looked up at her with blood red eyes.

"Amanda!  Oh my sweet Amanda."  he said as he pulled himself up and put his arms around her.

"A.j., what happened to you?"  she asked when he let go.  He let out a sigh.

"It's kind of hard to explain.  I think a curse was put on me."  he said sadly.

"A curse?  How the heck did you get a curse on you, let alone it be real?"  she exclaimed.

"I kind of was mean to this old shop owner today.  Look I know this is all really weird and stuff but you have to believe me."  he said.  She looked into his eyes, which were now red instead of brown, and saw he was dead serious.

"A.j.!  I knew your mouth would get you into trouble one of these days but something like this?  This is just...there isn't even a word for it."  she said madly.

"Listen, you have to help me.  I have to get back to that shop owner and have her take it off.  Or else you'll be the girlfriend of a freak show."  he said.  She sighed.

"Alright.  What kind of curse was it?"  she asked.

"She said something about bringing the evil inside me out.  What you saw was still me, but kind of mean and stuff."  he explained.

"And how do you expect to get to this lady tonight?"  she asked again.
 

"I'm not really sure.  I can't go in public like this. They probably lock me in a zoo or something."  he said.  They both thought for a moment.  Finally an idea struck Amanda.

"Your wings!"  she said.

"Um, come again?"  he asked.

"Your wings.  You could fly over to that place, it shouldn't be long."  she said pointing at them, which were now wrapped around A.j.'s shoulders like a strange cloak.

"Oh no.  I am not gonna risk it.  Besides, I don't think this is some kind of thing I learned in school."  he said.

"We can take the chance."  she whispered.

"Whoa, what do you mean we?  Amanda, I don't want anything happening to you.  Especially when your hurt."  he said, holding her hurt arm.  The wounds had stopped bleeding.

"I know but I don't want anything to happen to you either.  I'm coming with and that's that."  she said.  A.j. just rolled his eyes.

"Fine, but promise you won't freak out."  he said.

"I won't.  So your going to try it?"  he smiled.

"It's not like I have any other choice."  he said.  They walked over to the window.  Just as A.j. was going to pick Amanda up, they heard a familiar click of the door opening.  The turned around to see Nick standing there.  His eyes were as wide a dishes.

"Oh my god."  he squeaked out.

"Nick, please, let us explain!"  yelled Amanda.  That's all he could hear.   Nick then hit the floor.  He apparently fainted.  Amanda ran to his side and began to shake him.

"Get some water or something." she yelled at A.j..  He didn't want to go into the bathroom because of the mirror so he grabbed the bucket of ice.  He went back to Amanda who was still shaking Nick.  He threw the icy water in Nick's face.

"I hope this works." he said.  They were both relieved to see Nick's eyes open.

"Nick, dude, are you o.k.?"  asked A.j..  Nick didn't take his eyes off of him.  He let out a scream and started to get up.

"Who are you?"  he yelled.  Amanda grabbed his arm to prevent him from leaving.

"Nickey, relax!  It's A.j.!"  She told him.  Nick stopped struggling.

"Say what?"  he said confused.

"She's right bud.  It's the one and only."  said A.j..  Nick was just stunned.

"What happened?  What the heck are you?"  he babbled out.  A.j. shook his head.

"Look, what ever it is can be fixed.  Amanda and I were going to go get me changed back.  We need you to be look out and explainer if the others come back."  he said.  Nick just stared at him.

"How are you going to get there?  In fact, where are you going?"  he asked.

"The town we stopped in earlier today.  Something happened and I have to change it.  And i'm getting there be air travel."  he explained.

"You can't get on a plane!  Look at you!"  yelled Nick.  Amanda put her hand over his mouth.

"Not be plane.  By these."  A.j. flared out the wings and Nick stepped back.  Then took a deep breath.

"Fine, but you are going to tell me the whole story when you get back."  he snapped.  Nick always got this way when something scared him.

"Great.  So it's settled.  Come my dear, the skies a wait."  A.j. smiled.  Amanda took his claw and he lifted her up it his arms (Think weddings).  He walked out onto the balcony and jumped onto the edge.

"Be careful old friend!"  Nick yelled from inside.  A.j. gave him a thumbs up.  He held tightly onto Amanda and dropped over the edge.  At first it seemed like they were going to crash when the jetted upwards toward the sky.  A.j. leveled himself off and Amanda opened her eyes.

"Just be greatful we don't have to do that again."  laughed A.j..

"I don't even want to think about how your going to land."  said Amanda.

"Hey, this a once in a lifetime experience.  Just enjoy the ride while I do all of the work."  He gave a toothy grin.  Amanda relaxed a bit.  This was the man she loved and she trusted him deeply.  Even if this was a beauty and the beast type thing.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They arrived at the shop about 15 minutes later.  A.j. had made a smooth landing and put Amanda back onto her feet.  There was no one around so they were safe.

"Well, now what?"  she asked.

"Bust in there and get this thing out of me.  It's starting to wake up and I don't think i'll be able to hold it back at full strength."  he answered.

"She better be here.  I miss your handsome brown eyes."  she sad charmingly.  He gave a weak smile.  He walked up to the door and turned the knob.  To his surprise it was unlocked.

"Well this is good.  Spares me smashing through it."  he said with a laugh.  He wrapped his wings into cloak form and walk in with Amanda behind him.  The store was dark but they both could see the things on the wall.

"Yuck, why did you come in here?"  grimaced Amanda.

"To tell you the truth, I have no idea what so ever."  he said shaking his head.  Amanda looked a bit to her left and could see something out of the corner of her eye.  She turned her head to see a bit of light coming out from under a door.

"A.j.!  I think she's in there."  she said.  He looked and walked over to the door.  He tried the knob but it wouldn't turn.

"The dang things locked!"  he growled.  He backed up and gave the door one swift kick.  It went flying open and revealed little Agatha behind it.  She turned in shock of the beast and a young girl.

"You!  You're the one who did this to me!"  he yelled.

"I told you I was putting a curse.  You just didn't listen."  mocked Agatha.

"I want this curse off of me and I want it off now."  he said, a little more calmly.

"No."  she answered.

"No?  What do you mean no?"  asked Amanda.

"He hasn't lived up to what I have asked him.  Once he does that, I will break it.  Until then he should get to know Qadiehan.  They will become good friends."  she hissed.

"Listen, i'm really sorry for saying all of those things today.  I was just mad about something and all of those questions kind of fed into it.  Please, I don't want to live like this."  said A.j..  By the sound of his voice you could tell he was very sincere.

"No."  said Agatha.

"What?  He just did what you told him to."  yelled Amanda.

"An i'm sorry doesn't cut it for me."  she snapped.  The old woman turned to A.j..  "I hope you'll enjoy your life as a demon.  I bid you farewell."  A.j. opened his mouth to say something but closed it again.  Amanda was a wreck.  She ran out of the little room and out the front door.  A.j. went after her.

"Amanda, Manda!"  A.j. yelled after her.  He caught her on the steps and she fell into his arms sobbing.

"I'm sorry baby.  I tried.  I wish this never had happened but I tried."  he cried.

"She took her promise and threw it out the window A.j.."  she sobbed.

"I know babe.  I still love you with all of my heart.  I never meant it to happen this way.  If you never want to see me again, I understand."  he said.  There was a tear running down his cheek.  She wiped it away for him.

"A.j., you are still the same person.  I love you and that's all that matters.  And if it take a thousand years to change you back, so be it."  she whispered.  She hugged A.j. closer and he kissed her on the cheek.

"Excuse me."  said a little voice behind them.  They turned to see Agatha.

"What is it?"  snapped Amanda, her eyes still red and puffy from crying.

"I have changed my mind."  she said.

"What?"  asked A.j., sort of stunned.

"I will change you back.  You have learned the greatest lesson of them all without even trying."  she answered.

"And what's that?"  he asked.

"To love in any situation, whether it be good or bad.  Come in with me.  I will gave you the reversal."  she smiled.  She ducked back in with the two following her.  In the tiny room she grabbed a little bottle of a blue liquid.

"Drink this." ordered Agatha.

"You know, I just thought of something.  How are we going to get home?"  asked Amanda. The old woman just smiled.

"After this young man takes the reversal, you will be put back where you belong."  she answered.

"Well, here's goes nothing."  said A.j..  He downed the entire bottle of the stuff.  Then he doubled over as if in pain.  Amanda ran to his side but never made it.  There was a giant flash and the old shop was gone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Amanda!  Hey, Amanda!"  she could here Nick yelling in the distance.  She opened her eyes and saw him standing over her.

"You did it!  You really did it!"  he laughed.  She was wide awake when he said that.

"A.j.!  Where is he?"  she asked.  She sat up to see that she was laying on the hotel bed.

"Right here."   Amanda turned to see him.  The real him.  She smiled big and jumped off the bed.  She wrapped her arms around him.  He was still wearing his torn up shirt and jeans but she didn't care.  He held her tightly, as if to say no one can take her.

"Whoa, guys!  Let up a little"  said Nick.  They both laughed and let each other go.

"Yo Nick!  Did the others get back while we were gone?"  asked A.j..

"Yeah.  They came in here but I told them you two were on a walk."  he replied.

"Good call."  said Amanda.  She turned back to A.j. and looked into his eyes.

"This is going to be a night i'm never going to forget."  he laughed.

"Neither am I A.j." she whispered "Neither am I"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So there you have it.  Alexander was changed back and lived happily ever after.  In my opinion, that old woman should have kept him like that.  Who am I exactly?  Hm hm, you would like to know wouldn't you?  Well, names aren't important.  Oh, I do have one, believe me.  I happen to be a very very close friend of A.j.'s.  Always remember, when you rid your body of the evil inside, it has to go somewhere.  Nighty night!